# Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026 (synthetically generated information)

- **Jurisdiction:** India (IN)
- **Type:** Regulation · **Status:** In force · **Binding:** yes
- **Issued by:** Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
- **Proposed:** 22 Oct 2025 · **Adopted:** 10 Feb 2026 · **Effective:** 20 Feb 2026
- **Obligations:** Labelling AI content, Transparency to users, Penalties
- **Sectors:** Media, Consumer
- **Penalties:** Loss of safe-harbour (intermediary immunity) under Section 79 of the IT Act, exposing the platform to liability for user content.

## Summary
Defines 'synthetically generated information' (AI-made or altered audio/visual content that appears real) and requires intermediaries that enable its creation or sharing to prevent unlawful SGI, label it prominently and embed permanent metadata/unique identifiers. Significant social media intermediaries must collect user declarations on whether content is synthetic, verify them technically and label before publication; takedown timelines were cut (3 hours on government/court orders, 2 hours for non-consensual intimate imagery).

## Why it matters
Any platform or AI tool serving Indian users that generates or hosts synthetic media must now label it and keep provenance metadata, or risk losing safe-harbour protection under Section 79 of the IT Act.

## Source
[MeitY (consolidated IT Rules as amended by G.S.R. 120(E), 10 Feb 2026)](https://www.meity.gov.in/static/uploads/2026/02/550681ab908f8afb135b0ad42816a1c9.pdf) · [secondary](https://www.azbpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/India-AI-Regulatory-Tracker-2nd-Ed-Correct-Final.pdf)
Checked against the source on 4 Oct 2026. Notified as G.S.R. 120(E) dated 10 Feb 2026; effective 20 Feb 2026 (per AZB tracker and multiple law-firm notes). Builds on the non-binding MeitY AI advisory of 15 Mar 2024, which already urged labelling of AI outputs.

## Cite
Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026 (synthetically generated information). Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Status: In force. wheresthe.ai, https://wheresthe.ai/rule/in-it-rules-amendment-sgi-2026/ (verified 4 Oct 2026).

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Canonical page: https://wheresthe.ai/rule/in-it-rules-amendment-sgi-2026/ · Not legal advice.